Silo



Nov..25, 1930. w, BAYLEY 1,782,675

SILO

Filed May 28. 1928 l atented Nov. 2

level of the ensi lageg ,umriitk STATE WILLiAM Df AY n QoF SPRINGFIELD, 'OVHIO *sILO 1 ji maeonjmed Ha es, 1923. SeiialNm- 281,040. l 3

hflyinvention relates to silos and moreparticularlyfto tllQPQSltlOlliTIld arrangement of a seriesof discharge openings for ensilage additionalto'theusual access openings. It

5 is.customary in silo structures to provide-a vertical SQIIQS otaccess openings wh ch are suificiently large my admit ai rnajn to the in 1 teri or of the. silo and which are spaced as closely f together as .is "practicable, in) order that the" ensilage need nothelifted to a great access openings at intervalsnotonly weakens the S110 structure, but 1t also vleryl greatly 1n- .creases jthe cost of manu iadmm and neces-si tates thetprovlslon of specialreinforcements and the incorporationofa door panel? Fur- .tli ermore the use of the access openings for the discharge of ensilagel also necessitates a down chnte forthe dischargeof ensilage of 1 very much larger proportions, since the operator niustlcliinb through the interim-of s ich chute to the access opening above the In the res nt construction suchaccess openings are few in number and are located at morewidely spaced intervalswhile n ad dition thereto thereis prov ded an entirely :iny one ofthe series of discharge. openings.

f Sucheonstruction not only lniininiizes the eost of product1on,ln1t t also results 11113 g 'very much strongerconstruction.enabling the-silo Walls to Withstand greaterhnrsting strain, andhy,permittingdischarge.openings toQhe,flochtedat less intervals it'very'rmateriallji reduces the height Whichtheensilage musthe; lifted in order vto reach an accessible opening;

- e objectfof hematite is' to siinplify the structure and arrangement of silos where by they will not only becheapened in consti'iictioinlbut will 8 a g l ma r i height in orderto dischargeit through'such access openings. The provision of such large {i ndependent Yerticall series of smaller 0pm creased strength to resisthurstirigsti'ain and so arranged as to facilitate thedischarge of ensilage with inin iinun labor. 1 u I f A fur' herjobject of the invention is to facilitate the discharge of ensilage through an outlet opening of small size by r providing a detachable hopper which may. be engaged with different openings of a series. 1

vide a silo arra gement which i enable the use adown chute of smallproportions @HCl WlDCli Iimy he easilyerected n inimu n dental objects in viewasfiivill more fully sists ofthefeatures ofconstiuction, the pai'ts and combinations thereof; and the mode of operation as hereinafter described I and set forth in the claims.

, Referring to the aocoinpanyingdrawings, wherein isshown the preferred; but obviously not'necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,' Fig. l is fa side elevation of a silo structure embodying the present vellum. Fig. 2is aninterior perspectiite; View of'a port on of the silo. wallwithits ensilage dischargeopenings andthe detachahle hopper, Fig. 13 isaertical sectional View showing the relation of the discharge openingsfand the detaehable hopper. Fig. lS'a perspective View ofthe hopperdetached from the side of the silo. Fig; 5 is a erspec' tive View of one of the closure plates andrr'as;

'tening means for the dischargeopeningsp Like parts :are indicated by similar char acters of VleWS. a

I Referring to referel'ice' throughout the several the jagmtiir sg {1 entree which for illustrative purposes hasbeen shown constructed j from sheet "metal, al

though it is tobe understood that the pres two access doors 22ha've,heen. shown. 12 It ent invention is applicable.toI-silos-ofother I. L 'material. In the present construction; only Willhe understood that thejniiinherof; doors will depend eiitirelyilpon the height of'the silo structure. These access openings Vjare providedwith 'closure doors of anysuitahle e5 p'earin thespeeification; the invention conber of access openings 2, the walls of the silo may be circumferentially continuous throughout greater distances, thus material ly increasing the strength of the silo walls and enabling them to resist greater bursting strain. Also the reduction in the number of access openings or doors 2 materially decreases the cost of construction. The silo is entered through these access openings 2 which are reached by the usual ladder, 3.

7 Located at an convenient position in the walls of the silo is a vertical series of ensilage dischargeopenings hcse openings are of comparatively small size, being only sufficiently large to permit the exit of a forlzful of ensilage theretln'ough. These discharge openings '1- are preferably oval in shape and the material about the margins of such openings is flanged outwardly as at 5 to reinforce the walls at such points. By locating such discharge openings 8 at 00111- iaratively close intervals, at no time must the ensilage be lifted more than a very short distance from the level of the ensilage within the silo to the lowest acce ible opening 4;. Each of these openings'are coinparatively small and more or less diiilculty might be found in directing every forkful of ensilage through the opening, especially when forking ensilage from the opposite side of the silo. A hopper 6 is provided into which the ensilage is thrown, and by which it is guided toward and through the discharge opening 4.. This hopper 6 is formed from sheet metal and consists of an inclined botton and triangular ends braced by an angle bar frame including legs 7 which rest against the inner side ofthe silo wall interconnected by a transverse bar 8 at their lower ends. The lower forward edge of the hopper is formed into twodependent flanges or lips 9 which bear against the inner face of the silo wall, while intermediate such lips or flanges 9 is an outwardly extending hook 10 which extends through the opening el and engages the outer side of the silo wall or the flange about such opening. This gives to the hopper a sort of cantilever form in which the hopper is anchored to the side of the wal by the engagement of the hooked or ofiset flange 10 overthe bottom of the discharge opening 4 while the legs 7 and dependent flanges 9 bear against-the inner face of the wall tosupport the hopper in its engaged position. The hopper is readily disengageable for reengagement with another discharge opening of the series.

Exteriorly of the silo there is provided a down spout 11 which in this case is of sheetmetal bent to a semi-circular or channel shape. Angle bars 12 attaclied at intervals to the sides of such channelshaped down spout serve to connect the chute with :the tens" of the main structure 1. Since the chute 11 is for the descent of ensilage only it is of comparatively small size.

The discharge openings 4 are provided with closure plates 13 located interiorly of the silo wall about such opening. Attached to such plates in spaced relation by clamp bolts 14 are two angle bars 15 which engage the outer side of the silo wall when the closure is in its adjusted position. These clamp bars 15 are medially engaged by a transverse spring bar 16 connected medially to the closure plate 13 and at its ends to the respective clamp bars 15. This spring bar tends to hold the bar 15 away from the closure plate 13 to facilitate their engagen'ient with the side ofthe silo wall. When in position the clamp bolts 14 at the lower ends of the cl amp bars 15 rest upon the lower margins of the discharge openings 1 while the bolts ll at the upper end of such bars 15 are spaced downwardly from the margins'of the openings 4L sufficiently to permit an upward shifting movement of the closure plate and clamp bars when engaging and disengaging the closure with the side of the silo wall. -at such time it will be understood that the operator is within the silo. In applying the closure, the clamp bolts 14 being released. the upper ends of the clamp bars are thrust outward through the opening 4 and the closure is raised upwardly suiiicient to permit the lower ends of the bars to clear the lower margin of the opening. The lower ends of the bars being thrust out beyond the out-turned flanges of the opening l the closure is then lowered until the lowermost clamp bolt 14: rests upon the margin of the opening, at which time the lower ends of the bars 15 will overlap the silo wall below the opening while the upper ends will also 1e main in overlapping position above such opening. The bolts 141 are then tightened from the inner side of the closure. The nuts on the bolts are held by the flanges of the angle bars 15 from turning, while the bolt is being rotated by a screw driver or wrench. by the operator within the silo. 7 As the level of the ensila'ge within the silo is lowered sufficiently to expose one of the closure plates 13 of an opening 4. such closure is removed and the closure of the next opening 4: thereabovc placed in position. These discharge openings being closely spaced there is no time when the ensilage must be lifted any great distance. It will be.understood that as the ensilage is lowered in the silo the operator entering the silo reaches such level by means of a conveniently placed ladder leading from the ensilage level to the access opening 2 thereabove.

The construction herein described'not only permits the down chute to be made 'a much smaller size, but it also permits it to be extended close to the] ground and thus eliminates the necessity for the usual feed room.

a about these openings.

legitimate and The ordinary :silochutel'must' beqoli much larger size toenable a man to climb through the chute to reach theensilagele el, and or- The pro) ectinff 1 continuous flanges about the discharge openings afford the necessary strength and rigidity Withoutthenecessity of rivetingior. bolting a reinforcement frame of these discharge openings with rounded ends and the elimination'otcorners does not i weakenlthe Wallstructure to the sameextent t let to be understood, however, that the invention as if these openings were rectangular.v

is not limited to such oval or rounded openings but may lnclude tllscharge openings of frectangular or other polygonal shape. 7

While for illustrative purpose-5,. an allsteel or sheet metal silo has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the domlnant features of the invention may be applied equally as'well to silos ofWood, con: crete, tile or brick. Likewise the present invention may be embodied in a siloconstructed of {M00111b111lb10110f these mater als, or any of them and sheet metal. For example, a

sheet metal panel or strip With the discharge openings in it and with a down chute attached may be incorporated in a $110 Wall otherwlse constructedyoi": concrete,.wood or other non metallic material. Such door and chute unitembodying the features of the present invention might bemanufactured for sale to farmers Who construct their own silos from ,such materials as may be conveniently 'at hand.

From the above description it Will be apparent that there is thus provided a construe tion of the character described, possessing the particular teatures of advantage before I enumerated as desirable, but which obviously susceptlble of modlfication in its form, proportion and arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle. 1nvolved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Vvhilein order to comply with the statute the invention is describedinylangwige more or less'specific as to structural, :teatures, it 18 to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but

that themeans and construction herein di closed comprise the preterredforin of several modes of putting the invention into effect, andthe invention there-tore claimed in anyof its forms or modifications Within the .valid scope the appended claims.

through and a chutefenteriorlyaof Ithe silo openings, and ahseparate series of ensilage Moreover the shape discharge openings the series,

:opening is located Whereby'a continuous un about said openings. I

dependent ofsaid door, a hopper locatedixr teriorly of thesilojcoincident With saiddis; charge opening and directlngensilage therei I with which said dischargelopening communifcates,psaid chute beingvremoved froinsaid discharge openings, a chute with ,whichthe; discl' a'rge openings communicate, removable closures forsaid openings,and a hopper do tachably.engageable interiorly oiE the llO in proximate relation with different ensil 3, A silostructure having ayertical. series of spacedi'access openings, and a separate vertical series ofmore closely spaced ensilage discharge openingsm down chute commonto the openings of the last series and independ' entof the seriesof access openings, and re- 7 movable closures ttor saidzdischarge openings.

4. A? silofstru'cture having a plurality-oi? openings for,thefdischarge of ensilage, and a hopper detachably engageable with, the interior Wall '01 tliej' silofcoincidentWitlrdif? I feren't openings o f"the series,

5 a 110,1structure;formed from sheet metal having thereinh Vertical i series'f of spaced ensilage discharge openings, the

terial about said :openings being outwardly flanged, and a series of closure plate-s forsucn openings.

6. A silo, structure formed from" sheet metal havlng "thereina vertical; series of.

spaced oval ensilagefdischarge openings,

the openings being of less diameter in either" direction than the Wall sheet in 'whichsuch broken area of y vall sheet is afiorded around each opening, the material about said openings hing outwardlyflanged and a seriesot closure plates therefor. Q l 7. A silo haying therein a plurality of vertical series of ensilagedischarge openings, said openings being 1 or substantially oval shape" and laterallyfdisposedstanding flanges l j A 8. A silo Wall portionhaving located atdilrferentlexfels, anc ai ticalseriesof silage discharqe adjacent to the door openings, an a ladde attached totl1ewallportioi1 inter access doors andensilagedischargeopenin y 9. A silo all; portionotsheet metal la ingthere-in a vertical series otspaced ensil discharge openings, "said openingsbeing rounded at their ends and marginal; project l ing integral with the "sheetme'tal wall port on surrounding'the said discharge opentically spi ediaccess doo @53 c Vela l lol i i i1 I ccess doors Having thus described my invention, 1 ings. l l l 1 claim: '10; A S110 structure having entrance open- 1. A silo structure having an access door, 'ings at difiiei'ent levels, and having a series of verticaily spaced ensilage discharge openings independent of the entrance openings, closures for said discharge openings and means operable from the interior of the silo for securing and releasing said closures.

11. A silo structure having entrance openings at different levels, and having aseries of vertically spaced ensilage dischargeopen ings independent of the entrance openings, closures for said discharge openings overlapping the margins of the openings at one side of the silo wall, clamp bars carried by the closures in spaced relation therewith and insertable through the openings into over lapping relation with the margins of the opening at the opposite side of the silo wall, and clamp bolts connecting the bars and clo sures for clamping the margins of the openings therebetween.

12. A silo structure having a series of vertically spaced ensilage discharge openings, closures therefor each including a plate, a pair oi angle bars disposed in parallel relation transversely of the plate at one side thereof, clamp bolts connecting the angle bars in spaced relation with the plate, and a spring b'ar medially connected to the plate, the ends of which engage the angle bars for yieldingly holding the bars away from the plate, said closures being engaged by clamping the margin of the opening between the angle bars and plate. 7

13. A silo construction including a vertical series of discharge openings for discharge of ensilage, closure plates'theretor overlapping the margins of the openings at the inner side of the silo wall and means operable from the interior of the silo tor clamping said closure plates in their adjusted positions.

14. A silo construction having therein a vertical series of spaced ensilage discharge openings, and having a plurality of entrance openings independent of the ensilage discharge openings, and a down chute with which the ensilage discharge openings communicate independent of the entrance openings.

15. A silo construction having therein a vertical series of spaced ensilage discharge openings, and a hopper detachably engageable with the silo wall coincident with one or another ol said openings, said hopper in cluding a hook shaped portion eXt-endible through one of said openings and engaging with the outer side ofthe silo wall, and a dependent rest portion abutting against the interior face of the silo wall below the opening.

porarily supporting the hopper upon the silo wall independent of other supporting means.

17 A silo structure formed from sheet metal Wall sheets and having a vertical series of spaced openings therein and continuous out-turned flanges formed from the wall sheet material and entirely surrounding the openings.

18. A silo structure formed from sheet metal wall. sheets and having therein a series of vertically spaced openings of curvilinear outline, each opening being medially disposed within a wall sheet whereby a continuous unbroken area of wall sheet is provided about each opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May, A. D. 1928.

\VILLIAM D. BAYLEY. 

